Peter william willans



(No Model.)

' P. W. WILLANS.

STEAM ENGINE.

'No. 452,551. Patented May 19, 1891.

2 Va'ZrzeJs-es.

UN ITED I STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PETER IVILLIAM IVILLANS, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

STEAM-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 452,551, dated May 19, 1891.-

Application filed May 29, 1890.

T0 ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PETER WILLIAM WIL- LANS, engineer, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Ferry Works, Thames Ditton, London, in the county of Surrey, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam-Engin es, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object improvements in steam-engines.

Water is liable to collect in the cylinders of steam-engines under certain conditions, and when this takes place the economical working of the engine is much impaired. I find that this defect can be removed by very simple meansviz., by providing heating appliances in connection with small waterreceptacles in the cylinder, (either existing or specially provided,) so that any water formed by condensation in the cylinder at once passes into a receptacle which is maintained at a temperature somewhat above that of the other parts of the cylinder. The

arrangement which I prefer, where the cylinder is vertical, is as follows: Around the cylinder-cover I provide a small annular gutter, and in this gutter I lay a small steampipe, through which steam from the boiler can be passed either continuously or when required. The small-additional supply of heat thus provided locally to the part or parts of the cylinder where otherwise water would first accumulate I findrto be quite sufficient to keep the cylinder free.

The annexed drawings at Figure 1 show the application of my invention at the lower end of a steam-engine cylinder..- Fig. 2 shows its application at the upper end. I

In Fig. 1, which is a vertical section, a is a portion of the cylinder. 1) is the piston; c, the piston-rod. cl is the valve. A piston-valve is here shown; but a valve of any sort may be used. The valve d descends to admit steam to the cylinder and rises to the position in which it is shown in the figure to permit the steam to escapefrom the cylinder. e is a gutter formed around the cylinder at its lower end insuch a position that any water there may be in the cylinder beneath the piston at once passes into it. f is a small metal pipe lying in the gutter. It is connected at its two ends with the steam-pipe,

Serial No. 353,538. (NomodeL) preferably on either side of the stopvalve, to favor the passage of steam through the pipe f. The bottom of the cylinder is slightly inclined from the center or piston-rod opening toward the gutter 6, so that the water will readily flow into the gutter.. WVater entering the gutter 8 receives heat from the steam-pipe and passes ofif as steam and does not provoke further condensation, as it would do if it remained in the cylinder. The

arrangement for the upper part of the cylinder is similar. g is a gutter, into which, when the piston rises, any water there may be in the cylinder above the piston is swept. h is a steam-pipe lying in this gutter and supplied with steam in the same way as the 'pipef. The top of the piston is inclined from the center toward the edge to facilitate the flow of water into the gutter g.

\Vhat I claim is 1. The combination, with the cylinder of an upright steam-engine which is provided with a groove or channel arranged to receive water deposited in the cylinder, of devices arranged wholly within said groove or channel, so as to be immersed in the condensed water to vaporize it, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the cylinder of a steam-engine which is provided with a narrow groove or channel and a heated body laid parallel with said groove or channel and within it, so as to be immersed in the water of condensation collected in the channel.

3. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the upright cylinder, the bottom of which is inclined toward its edge, a recess at the edge of the inclined bottom, and a heater arranged in said recess to vaporize any water accumulating therein.

4. The combination, substantially as here inbefore set forth, of the upright cylinder, the piston therein, the top of which is inclined toward its edge, a recess in the cylinder, and a heater in said recess to vaporize any water accumulating therein.

PETER IVILLIAM IVILLANS.

Witnesses:

J NO. H. WHITEHEAD,

24: Southampton Buildings, London, IV. C.

T. F. BARNES,

28 Southampton Buildings, London, IV. C. 

